Spain has ever been one of the strangest soccer playing nations and it holds true for their domestic league as well. In fact, if we dig inside the historical facts, La Liga is perhaps the most loved professional soccer leagues in the world which consists some of the brightest soccer talents from around the world. When everyone looks at how exaggeratedly English premier league is being marketed globally by English think tanks, Spanish masters have come up a similar plan which could expand their reach into nontraditional regions as well. According to La Liga bosses, they have planned a tourney called ‘LFP World Challenge’ which will contain exhibition games being played throughout Europe, North and South America, and Asia and promote Spanish soccer culture in those regions. The promising plan was launched on Thursday by Spanish Football League (LFP) president Javier Tebas along with Spain’s sport minister Miguel Cardenal. The play format will allow games to be played in other countries as well along with inclusion of other national clubs which would be a novelty and similar to Championship league where only European clubs participate if they qualify, but in this format, top European clubs will be seen playing with nontraditional and promising soccer playing zones including Asia.
Though, the format is still in its early stages, many are predicting it to be based on a three years playing format which will start from 2014. Games of the event will either be played after the regular season or during preseason, that would make it even more enjoyable. According to insiders, first year games would be called “Time of Challenge” while second phase would be named “Challenger Select Series.” Many are still skeptical for its success if there is no involvement of Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, however, as per early signs, both these clubs have agreed to impart in this ambitious plan.
LFP President Javier Tebas described their new idea and said, “The objective is to generate confidence and value in the Spanish brand and football can play a part in this. La Liga puts Spain’s brand on a global level. For example, El Clasico, which has 400 million spectators. All our clubs are going to unite with this global experience, so that Spain’s brand can keep growing.”
“We will travel to Houston, New York, Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Malaysia, Turkey…. There is no financial value if we do not go out around the world.”